Zakk Cervini Plugins
While he uses boutique plugins, Cervini is a practical mixer who isn't afraid to use industry standards. Two Waves plugins frequently appear in his chain:
He uses the "Concert Hall" algorithm with a 2-second decay, but here's the twist: He high-passes the reverb send at 800Hz and low-passes it at 4kHz.
No list of Zakk Cervini plugins is complete without the Decapitator. This saturation plugin is on every mix he does—usually on guitars and parallel drums.
You don't need to spend $5,000 to get started. Here is the Minimalist Zakk Cervini Plugin Chain for a single guitar track:
Use these as starting points and trust references — compare your mixes to recent tracks Zakk produced and adjust saturation, compression, and stereo spread until the energy matches.
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Zakk Cervini , a Grammy-nominated producer and mixer (Blink-182, Bring Me The Horizon, Machine Gun Kelly), is known for a high-energy, "in-the-box" modern rock sound. His workflow relies on a mix of signature preset packs, classic analog emulations, and versatile digital processors. Signature & Specialized Plugins
STL ToneHub - Zakk Cervini Pack: Cervini developed a signature preset pack for STL ToneHub that includes 49 presets based on his personal collection of pedals, amps, and cabs. It features tones from his recent hit records, covering everything from clean rock to heavily saturated drop-tuned sounds and bass tones.
McDSP Series: Cervini has demonstrated his techniques using McDSP plugins, specifically mentioning FutzBox (distortion/filtering), Channel G (console strip), and Analog Channel (tape/preamp emulation) for mixing Blink-182's "She's Out Of Her Mind". Mixing & Processing Chain
Cervini utilizes various industry-standard plugins to achieve his signature punchy sound: EQ & Dynamics:
Dynamic EQ: His primary tool for taming low-mid "mud" (150-350Hz) in vocals. Waves SSL E-Channel: A staple for console-style mixing. zakk cervini plugins
UAD Harrison 32C EQ: Used for surgical and character equalization.
UAD Little Labs Voice of God (VOG): Frequently used to enhance low-end resonance. Compression:
Teletronix LA-2A: A go-to for smooth vocal and instrument leveling.
Softube FET Compressor: Used for faster, aggressive transient control.
SSL Bus Compressor: Often applied to group buses or the master for "glue".
Guitar & Bass Emulation: Beyond ToneHub, he has used Softube Amp Room and IK Multimedia AmpliTube for virtual amp modeling. Production Philosophy
Zakk Cervini discusses his preset pack for STL ToneHub Plugin
Zakk Cervini has become a titan of modern music production by blending the raw energy of rock and metal with the polished precision of modern pop. His "in-the-box" workflow is highly sought after by producers looking to recreate the massive sounds heard on records by Bring Me The Horizon, Blink-182, and Machine Gun Kelly.
Whether you are looking for his signature tones or the specific tools he uses to shape his mixes, this guide covers the essential Zakk Cervini plugins and production techniques. Signature Plugins and Presets
Cervini has collaborated with top developers to package his go-to sounds into accessible digital tools: While he uses boutique plugins, Cervini is a
STL ToneHub: Zakk Cervini Preset Pack: This is his primary signature offering, containing 49 presets that replicate his actual album tones. It covers everything from clean, atmospheric rock to heavily saturated, low-tuned metal tones and aggressive bass chains.
STL Tones: John Feldmann & Zakk Cervini Kemper Bundle: For hardware users, this bundle offers profiles of the exact amp and cab setups used in their joint productions. The Cervini Vocal Chain
Zakk is known for a "polished aggression" in his vocals that keeps them pinned at the front of a dense mix. His standard plugin chain often includes:
Subtractive EQ: FabFilter Pro-Q 3 for surgically removing harsh resonances and muddy low-mids.
Serial Compression: He typically uses two stages—a smooth optical compressor like the Waves CLA-2A for leveling, followed by a fast FET compressor like the Softube FET Compressor or Waves CLA-76 to add bite and control peaks.
Character EQ: Boosting "air" (12–16kHz) with Pultec-style emulations, such as the Slate Digital FG-Pultec.
Saturation & Width: Tools like Soundtoys EchoBoy and ValhallaVintageVerb are often side-chained to the lead vocal to maintain clarity. Drum Mixing and Sound Design
Zakk’s drum sounds are famously punchy and "expensive" sounding, often relying on heavy layering:
Zakk Cervini discusses his preset pack for STL ToneHub Plugin
Zakk Cervini has become a dominant force in modern rock and metalcore, known for his "polished aggression" on tracks for artists like Blink-182, Bring Me The Horizon, and Machine Gun Kelly. His workflow leans heavily on a specific set of plugins to achieve his signature punchy, radio-ready sound. Signature Plugin Collaborations Zakk’s vocal chain for artists like Yungblud is
Cervini has partnered with major software developers to release his own signature tones:
STL ToneHub Zakk Cervini Pack: A dedicated preset pack for the STL Tones platform containing 49 presets. These include album-ready guitar and bass chains used on his major records, ranging from clean rock to heavy saturated drop-tuning tones.
Kemper Producer Bundle: A collection of Kemper profiles developed alongside John Feldmann, providing the specific amp and cab combinations used on numerous number-one hits. Core Mixing Plugins & Chains
Zakk Cervini's "cookie cutter" yet highly effective mixing method relies on a few key software tools: Drums and Percussion
Samples & Libraries: He frequently uses GetGood Drums (GGD) "Modern & Massive" for drum sounds. Bus Processing
: To achieve his signature "smack," he uses SSL-style VCA compressors like the Slate Digital VBC Grey or Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Transient Control: Waves TransX Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
is a go-to for multi-band transient design, particularly for helping the low end of a kick drum punch through a dense mix.
His vocal chain typically involves a series of small, surgical steps:
Pitch Correction: Melodyne or MetaTune for subtle leveling and correction. EQ : FabFilter Pro-Q 3 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. for subtractive notching and iZotope EQ Match for tone matching. Compression: A two-stage approach using a "gentle" Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Slate FG-2A Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ) followed by an aggressive 1176 (or Slate FG-116 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ) to pin the vocal in place. Effects: ValhallaVintageVerb Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Soundtoys EchoBoy Go to product viewer dialog for this item. for space and delay. Guitar and Bass Architects / BMTH snare - Gearspace
Zakk’s vocal chain for artists like Yungblud is a mix of vintage character and modern limiting.
Modern pop-punk mixes often treat bass more like an electronic synth than a traditional instrument.
The vocals in a Zakk Cervini mix are never dry. They are usually drenched in reverb, delay, and modulation effects to create a dream-like atmosphere atop the heavy instrumentation.